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Liverpool Rumours And General Discussion 2007/2008

24567637

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 88,968 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    T4tF Pm-ed me after the old one got closed offering me the oppotunity to kick-of the new thread. I declined saying it would'nt ever be the same! :( sniff! ;)

    Mike.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,372 ✭✭✭✭Mr Alan


    Fair play Mr Fish, maybe you do have a heart after all :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 34,404 ✭✭✭✭~Rebel~


    *wipes tear from eye* its a happy day friends, our fallen comrade has returned!

    Now, something i've been wanting to bring up for ages - Paul Anderson - what the fuk has he done to Rafa to not get in any of the preseason games? He wasn't even listed in any of the reserve preseason games i think. Now he's been loaned out, unless he really really impresses, i dont think he'll have a future at Pool..shame really, looked a fantastic prospect from what i've seen of him.

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,326 ✭✭✭Zapp Brannigan


    So anyone else going to be missing the match? I don't get off work until 6 so I'll defintely miss the 1st half and probably a big chunk of the second :(


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 34,404 ✭✭✭✭~Rebel~


    Oh also another topic that didn't quite deserve its own thread - whats the deal with the reported interest in Cicinho? Theres no need for him IMO, not sure when he'd get his game, unless it was LB or something..The only problem area we have that could be disasterous is CB and we've not really been linked with any bar Heinze which is worrying me a bit..

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,372 ✭✭✭✭Mr Alan


    Yea not really sure the story with Anderson either, seems very strange. Its true he has always impressed. It just seems like Rafa doesn't fancy him at all.

    Think Guthrie going on loan is a good move, think of all the young lads coming through, he looks the most impressive, just a shame its in a position where he has fairly stiff competition!

    Not sure wat to make of the Cichinio speculation, definately think there is something in it though, wasn't Rafa in for him before he went to Real when he played against us in those World Club Championships?

    Maybe Arbeloa is just a stop gap and it'll be between Finnan and Cicinhio for the RB position, Stevie still has a couple of good years but he is no spring chicken!


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 6,942 ✭✭✭missingtime


    ~Rebel~ wrote:
    Now, something i've been wanting to bring up for ages - Paul Anderson - what the fuk has he done to Rafa to not get in any of the preseason games? He wasn't even listed in any of the reserve preseason games i think. Now he's been loaned out, unless he really really impresses, i dont think he'll have a future at Pool..shame really, looked a fantastic prospect from what i've seen of him.

    Yea... I always bring this up as well. I saw some of him in the reserves and he wins a man-of-the-match award every other game, can't understand why he wasn't put on the team for the pre-season.
    Someone said he's still one 19 or 20 so he has a while yet. Rumours are that has a lively social life which is frowned upon


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 495 ✭✭Sajan


    Regarding Anderson I think he had been with Swansea for a while before it was actually announced.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,372 ✭✭✭✭Mr Alan


    The lively social life thing gets mentioned a lot in regards to him alright, no smoke without fire and all that!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,233 ✭✭✭darkskol


    Just saw that its back :D
    I think tomorrow will be close 1-0 or 2-1 to Pool


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,399 ✭✭✭✭Thanx 4 The Fish


    Just got setanta there today, when does the LFC tv channel start broadcasting then ?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,399 ✭✭✭✭Thanx 4 The Fish


    RE*AC*TOR wrote:
    I think Mike65 should be allowed start this...
    I was actually just thinking the same thing!
    Anyone else think T4tF closed the old thread just so he could start a new one :p
    mike65 wrote:
    T4tF Pm-ed me after the old one got closed offering me the oppotunity to kick-of the new thread. I declined saying it would'nt ever be the same! :( sniff! ;)
    Mike.

    I thought so too.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,326 ✭✭✭Zapp Brannigan


    I thought so too.
    See. See!? I knew it!

    LFC TV starts in late september.
    Getting excited now about the new season! C'mon the Pool!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,544 ✭✭✭redspider


    So, a new season for Liverpool and the other top-flight teams is about to start. Yet again, a season for Liverpool where fan demands will be high, and (new) club owner expectations will be high, yet vying to do well in both the League and the CL will be a difficult task.

    Has Rafa/Owners bought wel, so farl? Torres is 'unproven' in this league and will take time to adapt. Babel and Voronin also, the latter may gel better. But, the outcome is unknown really. Benayoun is a known quantity but I cant see him making that much of a difference, surely.

    There's also been a swathe of leavers such as Bellamy, Cisse, Pongolle, Garcia, Zenden and Gonzalez. These were no slouches.

    I cant see us making a step change in improvement (ie: 3rd to 1st) with so many personnel changes. A slick working team will take a while to develop, and may not in one season, and it will be the usual problem of what is our best 11. Rafa will 'tinker'.

    So, predictions:

    Liverpool may do okay but with a yet another new team it is likely to be yet another year of 'transition'. 3rd would be good and a challenge at the title least would be all I would be looking for. A good run in the CL is also vital for the dosh and I would expect Rafa to optimize on that if the league tilt isn't looking so viable come March/April.

    You cant go far wrong with predicting either Man Utd or Chelsea to win it though as much as that may be unpalatable to many. I think it will be a closer comp this year, as Chelsea are clearly not what they were, a lot will depend on Drogba and it remains to be seen if Shevcenko will do the biz or not and how other new acquisitions will fit in. Robben might leave as well.

    Man Utd have strengthened but both Giggs and Scholes are a year older and they played their part last time. And surely defenders will learn to tackle C.Ronaldo when he's doing the step-overs rather than watching and waiting for him to finish. Tevez may get them a few, and he will be Rooney-like. Torres may be a more refined player, time will tell, but Tevez certaubly could have done a job for Liverpool. You certainly couldn't discount Man Utd and they have got to be slight favourites.

    Arsenal will miss Henry, even though he wasnt himself last season, and the young lads may not be able to produce the goods on a consistent basis. I could see them winning a cup though with the right draw. They may be in the fight for 4th/5th as some have pointed out, but could also be in the 2nd/3rd battle, and maybe its Liverpool who will be tussling with the likes of Spurs.

    Newcastle are due an improved season, but it remains to be seen how much.

    Sund-ireland for mid-table would seem doable. Their (business) plan now is to crack into Uefa in the next two years. Its interesting to see how an Irish-ran club will fare in the long-term.

    Can Spurs really break into a CL spot? I hope they do it, but not at Liverpool's expense. Arsenal I wouldn't mind, but "I would love it, love it" if it was Chelsea or Man Utd. ;-)

    Lets hope there is some good football played .....

    Redspider


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 34,404 ✭✭✭✭~Rebel~


    Yeah really excited about opening day. this is the first time in a while all our new players have been added in nicely before the window shut. Very excited about our squad, we can put out 2 very good teams (except for CB) which i've never really been able to say before.
    In theory (gonna count carson for this)

    Reina
    Carson

    Finnan
    Arbeloa
    Carragher
    Agger
    Paletta/Hobbs
    Hypia
    Auralio
    Riise

    Pennant
    Benayoun
    Mascherano
    Alonso
    Gerrard
    Lucas/Sissoko
    Babel
    Kewell

    Torres
    Kuyt
    Voronin
    Crouch

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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 88,968 ✭✭✭✭mike65


    CB is indeed looking rather thin, I'm surprised rafa has'nt addressed this area before now rather than mess about with Heinze transfer. Paletta is arguably the weakest member of the first team squad.

    Mike.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭Drag00n79


    Great to have this back. The last few weeks were like being evicted from your house!! :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,746 ✭✭✭Drag00n79


    Just a heads up on this, the Toulouse - Liverpool Champions League Qualifier is live next Wednesday on both ITV1 and Setanta Sports 1 (K.O. 3.30).
    ITV1 is definitely doing the second leg live too on Tuesday 28th August (K.O. 8.05). No word from RTÉ on either yet.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,079 ✭✭✭✭Malice


    Great to see the new thread back. I missed it! I'm going to go with a 1-0 victory for Liverpool tomorrow. Villa will probably (hopefully) play a bit more positively that Sheffield Utd did in last season's opener. Hopefully no dodgy early season performances this time around. Torres to score a scrappy goal in the second half and the papers to go overboard proclaiming him to be the new Keegan/DalglishRush/Fowler etc.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,278 ✭✭✭The Rooster


    marco_polo wrote:
    My guess at the starting lineup:

    Reina

    Finnan
    Carragher
    Agger
    Riise
    Pennant
    Gerrard
    Mascherano
    Benayoun
    Kuyt----Torres
    That would be my guess too, with the exception of Alonso in for Mascho. I'd say Mascho will come in for the Chelsea game, with Gerrard going wide. Crouch will start against Toulouse as the foreigners have more problems with his awkwardness. I'd say Kewell and Arbeloa will start against Toulouse also.

    I've a bad feeling we'll start with a scoreless draw against Villa. Hope I'm wrong. In normal circumstances draws away to Villa and home to Chelsea wouldnt be bad results - but it would probably leave us 7 points behind the mancs already, and that would be very bad!


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,184 ✭✭✭✭Pighead


    No chance of Kewell starting? Thought he had a decent pre-season?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,399 ✭✭✭✭Thanx 4 The Fish


    I would like to see him playing some part today, he has done well in pre-season and this season is his last chance.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,278 ✭✭✭The Rooster


    Pighead wrote:
    No chance of Kewell starting? Thought he had a decent pre-season?
    He was "decent" but not much more than that, and reportedly he was poor for the Aussies (tho most of them were). Benayoun and Pennant were better than Kewell in pre-season from what I saw. He'll get plenty of chances but I'm sure himself, Yossi, Pennant and Babel wil be constantly rotated.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,079 ✭✭✭✭Malice


    I would like to see Kewell starting too. As a starting line up, I'm going to go with:
    Reina

    Finnan
    Carragher
    Agger
    Riise
    Gerrard
    Alonso
    Mascherano
    Kewell--
    Kuyt----Crouch
    This is based on the fact that both Pennant and Benayoun looked sharp in pre-season therefore Martin O'Neill will be expecting them to start, therefore Rafa will leave them on the bench :) Torres and Pennant to feature in the second half and hopefully combine for the winner.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,911 ✭✭✭✭whatawaster


    I'm wildly optimistic about the new season. I think once we have a centre back on board, we have all the depth we need.

    My team for Villa:

    Reina

    Finnan
    Carragher
    Agger
    Riise

    Pennant
    Alonso
    Gerrard
    Babel

    Torres
    Kuyt


    Up and Atom!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 21,250 ✭✭✭✭Cyrus


    yeah! our thread is back

    cmon the pool!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,079 ✭✭✭✭Malice


    I think once we have a centre back on board, we have all the depth we need.
    Assuming Carragher and Agger are first choice, is a backup pair of Arbeloa and Hyypia with Palletta also available not enough?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,911 ✭✭✭✭whatawaster


    malice_ wrote:
    Assuming Carragher and Agger are first choice, is a backup pair of Arbeloa and Hyypia with Palletta also available not enough?


    In a word - No. Not in my opinion anyway.

    Arbeloa is unproven at centre back, Paletta is not (yet) good enough. Hyypia I wouldn't mind stepping in the odd game, but I think we need someone else - preferably someone with pace.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,079 ✭✭✭✭Malice


    But it is going to be very difficult to attract a player of sufficient quality to be in effect a fourth choice centre back. I agree with Arbeloa being unproven. Maybe Jack Hobbs could be the pacey centre-back? I haven't seen him play but he's highly regarded and as far as I know hasn't been sent on loan this season.


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  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,664 ✭✭✭gary the great


    Delighted the thread is back.

    Can't wait to get going this evening, i don't think i've ever been so excited about a new season starting. We need that all important good start.


This discussion has been closed.
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